Modern Architecture
Renowned architects of the Pacific Northwest.
Modern History
A Brief History of Modern Architecture in the Pacific Northwest
1928 – Many consider Paul Thiry the progenitor of Modern Architecture in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1928 and his small but influential firm brought the European International Style of architecture to the area. At about the same time Lionel Pries arrived at the University of Washington to join the faculty.
1945 to 1970 – The end of WW II, the “GI” Bill, the baby boom, a general sense of optimism, and a shortage of housing in the American west set the stage for a modern architecture housing boom. Thiry and Pries along with Pietro Belluschi and John Yeon in the Portland, Oregon area influenced a whole generation of young Northwest architects interested in modernism. This influence combined with the factors listed above gave us a “Northwest Regionalism” and a specific identity in the modern architecture movement.
1975 to 1990 – Modern’s Dark Ages. With only a few wonderful exceptions, the modern aesthetic was hit hard by post modernism. Modern was redefined as cold. We believe much of this was caused by the poor use of modern concepts in the institutional setting and especially in public housing projects in the old Soviet Union and eastern block as well as in North America and parts of Asia. The proverbial baby was thrown out with the bathwater and all modern was affected no matter how great or timeless the architecture.
1990 to 2000 – The Re-embrace of Modern. About this time a new generation of young, smart people began to come into their own. Many of these folks had grown up in the homes of the 1950s, 1960s and ear ly 1970s watching James Bond movies and living in and around modern architecture. They had a sense for it. Popular culture began to shift; magazines started using primary colors, more angular designs. Vintage modern furniture became popular moving many manufactures to reissue modern designs, and a mid-century classic modern preservation movement began to take root. Architects took note and we started seeing modern design concepts again often with new materials utilizing newer building techniques.
2000 to Present – Modern is Green/Green is Modern. Modern architecture is uniquely suited for the green consciousness of today. Most talented architects have embraced modern design incorporating green materials in innovative ways. Architects are now designing homes to capture both active and passive solar energy, including water catchment systems, where practical, and so much more to raising efficiency standards.
